title: Does exogenous nitric oxide influence tympanosclerosis? An experimental study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to elucidate the effects of exogenous nitric oxide application via myrigotomized rat tympanic membranes on tympanosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male rats were included in the study. After myringotomy, nitric oxide was given to the left tympanic cavities and saline was given to the right as the control group. The procedure was repeated 3 times with weekly intervals. Three months after the first procedure, otomicroscopic examination was made and the rats were sacrificed for histologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither otomicroscopic examination, nor histologic examination of middle ears and tympanic membranes revealed any significant difference between the right and left sides. Tympanic membrane thicknesses were also similar on both sides without showing any significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from this study indicate that exogenous nitric oxide application did not change the occurence of tympanosclerosis in the rat model. Other cytokine interactions are needed to start the reaction sequence leading to tympanosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Kurupelit 55139, Samsun, Turkey. sinanatmaca@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atmaca
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Ahmet Yilmaz
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Coban
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Senem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cengel
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koyuncu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014226:Triazenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: C105351:1-hydroxy-2-oxo-3,3-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1-triazene; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D014226:Triazenes